Factors Affecting Growth Performance in Purebred Gudali and Two-Breed Synthetic Wakwa Beef Cattle in a Tropical Environment

Abstract

Data were collected on preweaning and postweaning growth performance of calves from purebred Gudali and two-breed synthetic Wakwa beef cattle, at the Agricultural Research Centre, Wakwa, Ngaoundere, Cameroon. Data were analyzed using a mixed model procedure to determine factors affecting the performance. Results showed that maternal, sex, herd, calving season and year, age at weaning (WAGE), exact age (days) at weighing for yearlings (YAGE) and eighteen-month-old calves (EAGE) effects significantly (P < 0.01 or P < 0.001) affected preweaning and/or postweaning performances. Male calves performed better than female calves in Gudali and Wakwa breeds by 0.8 and 0.6 kg for the birth weight (BWT), 11.3 and 12.8 kg for the preweaning weight (WWT), 14.5 and 15.1 kg for the yearling weight (YWT), 13.4 and 11.9 kg for the eighteen-month weight (EWT), and for preweaning growth by 0.04 and 0.06 kg/day, respectively. Calves born in the dry season were heavier than those born in the rainy season in Gudali and Wakwa breeds by 19.0 and 21.7 kg (WWT), 6,0 and 8.8 kg (YWT), and 18.2 and 26.5 kg (EWT), respectively. The best performance was registered in calves born from dams aged 3-7 (CAG1) for Gudali and 8-10 (CAG2) for Wakwa. It is therefore necessary to take into account these significant effects to better assess calf performance.